The short film by Drishyam Films takes us into a single day in the life of a farmer in Karnataka. The film is set in 2016, soon after the legalisation of guns for farmers in the state to protect their crops from wild boars. The narrative critiques the decision and the ramifications that ensued. There are no dialogues in the film between the protagonists, the story is weaved together by skilled cinematography and editing instead, making the viewer forget completely about the absence of words. It further draws attention to the fact that while decisions might be reached by those in power, debated by those who cannot change them, those who are truly affected by them have little to say in this regard. The protagonist of the film listens to the news of legalisation of weapons on his radio with casual indifference. The day's tasks are taken care of with the same nonchalance that must have been employed on every other day before then. The decision will affect him in far serious ways than he realises and yet do little to change the reality of the world he inhibits.

Bete (Hunt) | Short Film of the Day

Based on a true story of a farmer's suicide in Maharashtra, the short film reminds the viewer that the simplest of stories can be the most hard-hitting. Art indeed is an imitation of reality which is often what makes it disconcerting. The narrative is linear, straight and simple, yet weaved in a manner that will make the film stay with the audience for a very long time. Giving us a glimpse into the plight of an onion farmer, the short film delineates a trip he makes to a local mandi to sell his harvest. The exploitation at the hands of the buyers is brazen enough to be even dismissed by his young son as being ridiculous. On the other hand, the farmer, bound by need and poverty, has no alternative, but to accept it. The whole act is vehemently rejected by the child, who violently protests against it. His father, however, can do little beyond weeping at a fate out of which only death seems to be a certain escape.

Mandi | Short Film of the Day

Seldom do we ponder how much hard work goes behind every bite of food we eat. ThankYouKisaan by IndoFarm is a short film paying tribute to our farmers, the unsung heroes our nation. It quickly flits across daytimes, geographies and class boundaries, showing how it is inevitably linked to food, and we should be grateful to the ones producing it.

ThankYouKisaan | Short Film of the Day

The documentary film is an attempt to engage with Bodinayakanur, a village in Tamil Nadu, and its trade of cardamom. Also known as the 'city of cardamom', the small area comes to be the subject matter of the narrative that takes the viewer into the intricacies of the trade. From the farmers and the daily labourers who work in its growth and harvesting, to the buyers and external traders involved in the business, the narrative wants to engage with its various components. It also interacts with the many obstacles of the business and commerce that has come to get tied with the lived reality of the local people. Overall, the film is an endeavour that shows promise which can be developed and delivered further in future projects by the director.

Yellakai Nagaram | Short Film Nominee

The film does a notable job of invoking the cyclical nature of debt that financial structures thrive on at the expense of an average person. The story is of a farmer in Tamil Nadu who takes a loan for his son's education, both characters performed convincingly by the actors. Once his education is complete, the son moves to a metropolitan city to repay the loan with his job. However, in the city lies its own set of distractions that sink him deeper into debt. As despair grips Kathir, along with the isolation of being in a city which doesn't accept him for who he is, he finds himself taking a disturbing, extreme step. Through the tragic story of a father-son duo, the film comments on how entrapping the web of debt can be, often blinding the person of the pitfalls of money that is provided to them instantly. The narrative also tries to comment on culture gap and the pressure to fit in.

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